Cost of Living Comparison Between Prague and Plzen Cost of Living Comparison Between Prague and Plzen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,993 in Prague versus $1,591 in Plzen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,898 in Prague versus $2,308 in Plzen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,803 in Prague versus $3,025 in Plzen.

Living in Prague is roughly 25% more expensive than Plzen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Prague 49% above, Plzen 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.45 Kč 218
$9.25 Kč 193
12.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.50 Kč 969
$45.92 Kč 957
1.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.25 Kč 193
$8.42 Kč 176
9.86%
Cappuccino
$3.42 Kč 71.3
$3.16 Kč 65.9
8.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 Kč 38.10
$1.91 Kč 39.80
-4.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 Kč 33.21
$1.67 Kč 34.89
-4.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.82 Kč 58.7
$2.77 Kč 57.7
1.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 Kč 63.7
$2.74 Kč 57.1
11.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 Kč 24.99
$1.18 Kč 24.57
1.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 Kč 32.83
$1.56 Kč 32.44
0.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.48 Kč 51.7
$2.33 Kč 48.54
6.44%
Eggs
$3.36 Kč 70.0
$3.21 Kč 67.0
4.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.71 Kč 265
$12.57 Kč 262
1.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.55 Kč 199
$9.14 Kč 191
4.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.01 Kč 271
$14.24 Kč 297
-8.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.06 Kč 42.91
$1.72 Kč 35.90
19.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 Kč 38.40
$1.77 Kč 36.83
3.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Kč 47.50
$2.25 Kč 46.96
1.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.87 Kč 80.7
$3.71 Kč 77.3
4.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 Kč 29.39
$1.31 Kč 27.30
7.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 Kč 23.92
$1.23 Kč 25.69
-6.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 Kč 35.29
$1.45 Kč 30.25
16.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 Kč 16.73
$0.81 Kč 16.99
-1.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.49 Kč 156
$6.95 Kč 145
7.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.21 Kč 150
$7.04 Kč 147
2.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 Kč 22.67
$1.16 Kč 24.19
-6.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 Kč 45.71
$1.56 Kč 32.44
40.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Prague
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 Kč 29.52
$1.22 Kč 25.50
16.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.49 Kč 531
$26.44 Kč 551
-3.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 Kč 47.73
$2.06 Kč 42.87
11.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 Kč 28.82
$1.22 Kč 25.46
13.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 Kč 347
$13.92 Kč 290
19.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 Kč 36.76
$1.73 Kč 36.11
1.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K Kč 616.8K
$28.2K Kč 588.4K
4.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Kč 649.6K
$30.1K Kč 627.7K
3.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$308 Kč 6,430
$260 Kč 5,422
18.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.70 Kč 557
$25.48 Kč 531
4.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.70 Kč 452
$20.43 Kč 426
6.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.3 Kč 1,549
$64.0 Kč 1,334
16.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 Kč 357
$14.36 Kč 299
19.22%
Cinema Ticket
$11.75 Kč 245
$10.23 Kč 213
14.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$898 Kč 18.7K
$328 Kč 6,837
173.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K Kč 301.7K
$8,886 Kč 185.3K
62.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.3 Kč 1,757
$83.6 Kč 1,743
0.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.19 Kč 775
$43.33 Kč 903
-14.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.4 Kč 2,031
$91.1 Kč 1,899
6.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 Kč 2,717
$114 Kč 2,366
14.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prague
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,139 Kč 23.7K
$671 Kč 14.0K
69.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$881 Kč 18.4K
$607 Kč 12.7K
45.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,272 Kč 47.4K
$876 Kč 18.3K
159.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,529 Kč 31.9K
$850 Kč 17.7K
79.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.2K Kč 212.1K
$4,838 Kč 100.9K
110.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,573 Kč 157.9K
$3,939 Kč 82.1K
92.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,417 Kč 50.4K
$1,989 Kč 41.5K
21.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.84
5.47
-11.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Prague: May 31, 2026

Last update for Plzen: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,139 in Prague and $671 in Plzen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Prague pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Prague vs $46.00 in Plzen. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $267, with Plzen cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Prague vs Plzen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plzen cheaper than Prague?
Plzen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Prague or Plzen?
Prague pays 21% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Prague and Plzen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,139 in Prague versus $671 in Plzen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Prague or Plzen?
Dining out is cheaper in Plzen – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $46.00 in Prague. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Prague vs Plzen?
All in, you'll spend $1,993 per month in Prague versus $1,591 in Plzen – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Prague or Plzen?
At $1,591 in Plzen versus $1,993 in Prague, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Plzen but tight or insufficient in Prague. The gap between the two cities makes Plzen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Prague or Plzen more family-friendly?
For families, Plzen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Prague, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Prague or Plzen?
Safety-wise, Prague and Plzen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Plzen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Prague. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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